BTB is – as are most blogsites – a site that focuses on the interests of the individuals who write here. But when I describe Box Turtle Bulletin to others, I say that we discuss sexuality, religion, and politics and how they intersect. As our authors live in the United States, our coverage tends to lean heavily towards American culture but we strive to think outside of our borders (political, cultural, and self-imposed).

And sometimes we just put up things that interest or amuse us personally. I got a big kick out of B’nai B’rith getting the date of Hanukkah wrong and I appreciate that I live in a city and work in a building where Chabad members would give out a calendar in an elevator. (And look at the “accompanying picture with a holiday candle” again. It’s the friggin’ calendar with the incorrect date.)

But if you think that BTB is slighting Christians at Christmas, I’ll make you a deal. Find me a Leyendecker print of a nativity scene and I’ll use it next year.

]]>By: Rob in San Diegohttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/12/19/39873/comment-page-1#comment-113676
Wed, 04 Jan 2012 04:29:46 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39873#comment-113676@ Tim you say “If you are hoping to find some streak of anti-Semitism, I don’t think BTB is the place to look.”

That’s my problem right there, who’s looking for a streak here? I’m voicing my opinion and asking questions. I didn’t realize to follow this site one must have the same point of view as yourself. And to have differing views makes one an anti-semite, than fine, I’ll be an anti-semite. I come here for one reason only, and that is for LGBT news.

BTB is a site for LGBT issues is it not? Now that I know your thoughts it makes sense why your Hanukkah article has an accompanying picture with a holiday candle and yet your Merry Christmas has a Santa, rather than something equally religious to a holiday candle like mentioning the birth of Christ or anything like that. That’s ok Tim, it’s just cultural biasness.

If you are hoping to find some streak of anti-Semitism, I don’t think BTB is the place to look.

Especially if you are presenting some Riefenstahl image of Jews who don’t observe Independence Day due to some misplaced loyalties. I don’t know those Jews. Here in Los Angeles (which has, I believe, the largest Jewish population outside Jerusalem) the Jews I know are all Americans in their identity – including a co-worker born in Israel.

Sure, like all communities, there are separatists. But you aren’t going to convince me that my friend Dan – who brought me Hanakkah coins to Christmas dinner this year – is some threat to your secular world.

If it eases your mind in any way, one of the great American Jewish traditions is agnosticism. Your tradition is candy eggs. Theirs is prayers in a language many don’t speak to a god they dont think is hearing them. Get over it.

]]>By: Priya Lynnhttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/12/19/39873/comment-page-1#comment-113323
Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:23:57 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39873#comment-113323Rob said “You see here is the great thing about Christmas and Easter, you don’t have to celebrate Christ at all if you don’t want to. You can exchange gifts and dye chicken eggs and leave religion out of it completely…”.

I don’t see the connection between celebrating my American culture and the nation’s policy in the middle east. One doesn’t lead to the other in any way that I can see.

]]>By: Jim Burrowayhttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/12/19/39873/comment-page-1#comment-113298
Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:43:08 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39873#comment-113298Are not jewish people gay also? I have a friend in San Francisco who is Jewish and gay. When we visited him over the Christmas holidays, it also happened to coincide with Hanukkah that year. And guess what? Each night, we lit a candle and took turns reciting the prayers in Hebrew (he had a book that spelled it out phonetically in Latin characters). I didn’t feel particularly Jewish or religious, but I certainly felt honored to take part in my friend’s cherished traditions.

So even though Hanukkah’s over, happy Hanukkah anyway Rob. And have a blessed Kwanzaa while you’re at it.

]]>By: Rob in San Diegohttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/12/19/39873/comment-page-1#comment-113296
Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:18:34 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39873#comment-113296OMG, I just went and looked up Hanukkah online, it requires prayers and rituals that you must recite each night, sounds like pushing a religion if you ask me. And all this over the retaking of a temple and oil that lasted 8 days. You see here is the great thing about Christmas and Easter, you don’t have to celebrate Christ at all if you don’t want to. You can exchange gifts and dye chicken eggs and leave religion out of it completely, that is the great success of America, we don’t force any one religion onto anyone, you can celebrate the religious way, or you don’t have to. Look at Valentines Day, does anyone here actually celebrate Saint Valentines? No we give candy and chocolate and have lots of sex. Does anyone actually honor Saint Patrick? No we wear green and get drunk, and not a single prayer is said before getting drunk.

I love you guys very much and I love reading your articles and participating, but I still stand by original statement. Hanukkah is purely religious and celebrates the retaking of a temple and should be celebrated by the jewish culture as should be.

I know everyone is going to yell and scream at me, but I just want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

]]>By: Rob in San Diegohttp://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/2011/12/19/39873/comment-page-1#comment-113295
Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:52:59 +0000http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/?p=39873#comment-113295To answer your question Jim, all of those Holidays that you mentioned (except for Pride) ARE American Holidays, celebrated by Americans, even if they originated from another country. Most have been officially recognized by the government, and they even get those days off.

The lighting of a holiday candle during Hanukkah is only celebrated by jewish people, just as the lighting of a holiday tree is not celebrated by them. Do they celebrate Valentines Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving? Probably not because they are still holding onto the jewish culture rather than assimilating to America’s traditions. I don’t consider myself French-American or German-American, nor do I follow any of their holidays if they are not celebrated here in America, do you know why? Because I’m not French-American or German-American, I’m an American and I celebrate American Holidays and as an American I don’t have to celebrate the religious Holidays at all, we have non-secular ways to celebrate Christmas and Easter, it’s called good times with friends and family.